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The SIACE gun and case is one I passed over due to it's sloppy condition as a "new" rifle. Sorry if I wasn't too clear on that. There IS a slight connection however mostly due to the fact that almost everyone in Val Trompia is related if you go back far enough and most are in the gun business or support those who are. There are actually 4 Rizzini families making guns. #1 is F.lli Rizzini (Fratelli Rizzini) who is a bespoke, best gun maker turning out about 10 guns a year. http://fllirizzini.it/versioneinglese/index.html #2 is B. Rizzini (Battista Rizzini) and is the one most are referring to when "Rizzini" is mentioned. They are right across the street from Beretta and make excellent computer machined and hand finished guns. https://www.rizzini.it/page.php?idp=1 https://www.rizzini.it/fucile.php?cat=7&idf=37 The other 2 are members of the cooperatives FAIR and SIACE but I don't know much more than that. Picking up the gun at my FFL, I noticed the very sturdy plastic case which has 2 thumb-wheel programmable locking clasps. Empty it weighs 5 pounds. It's nicer than my Beretta plastic double gun case. And when I asked for one, they threw in a stock bolt wrench. Getting it home and taking it apart, the first things I notice are the amount of copper in the bores and the white lithium type grease all over the inside. It's almost as if it was never cleaned since regulation. And I have no idea what went on with it while at Rizzini USA. Slowly over the next week or so I managed to remove the grease using q-tips, tooth picks and all the usual cleaning equipment. Luckily I had some experience taking care of the Beretta double guns. The copper succumbed to Butch's bore shine and other solvents. And yes the bores are micro-groove 1/38" twist typical old school 444 Marlin spec. It's still somewhat of a mystery what they were thinking when "they" decided on a 1/38" twist for this cartridge. Had they gone with as little as 1/30" twist we would not be talking about 444 Marlin twist as that should stabilize any 44 cal. bullet in these guns. I got it cleaned up enough to think about taking it to the range and taking some pictures for documentation. The styling tries to evoke a British look in the way the new Triumph motorcycles attempt to look like the old ones although completely different. (I have been riding Triumphs since the late 1960's). The fences look "borrowed" from H&H and the frame locking is all Purdey with the double underlug and "hidden nose" 3rd bite. I think the nose may also have something to do with triggering the springs to snap close the frame locking when the gun is closed. It weighs 7 lb. 10 oz empty and has the most intelligent off the shelf stock I have ever used. The stock has a little cast and a little twist. After lengthening the pull somewhat with a Beartooth Products adjustable slip-on butt pad, I can mount the gun eyes closed and open them to see the sights perfectly lined up. It's almost as if I fit for it with a try gun. I am very impressed with the stock shape and dimensions. That's all I have left in the tank for this evening. The trigger lockworks exposé will have to wait for part 3. |